Andy Dales sums up the ups and downs of the season.

MANAGER Gareth Holmes shares his views on the 2-0 win over Prescot Cables in the final match of the season and looks forward to 2025/26.

by Peter Scherer

TWO goals in two minutes during the first half sealed victory for Mickleover over Prescot Cables, in their final match of the season.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kwaku Donkor 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Gabby Adebambo 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Dylan Edwards 11-Josh Carter. Subs: Cieron Keane, Jake Bennett, Curtis Weston, Ryan Wilson, Toby Smith.

Mickleover started strongly, with Beavon shooting just wide after two minutes, following a good build up from Edwards and Carter.

But five minutes later Prescot had their first break when Dales lost possession in midfield. But Murphy found his way blocked by Benson, and any danger was soon cleared.

It was almost becoming one-way traffic, as Atkinson set up Ferron for a run down the left after 13 minutes. His cross found Edwards, whose shot well saved by keeper Hare.

Dales then tried his luck a minute later, but was just wide of the right-hand post before a second attempt three minutes later was blocked and cleared.

Both Donkor and Ferron were finding freedom on the wings, and Donkor’s 18th minute overlap managed to connect with Beavon’s head, but not quite enough to challenge Hare.

Carter was next to take a run at the visiting defence. He jinked his way unto the box from the right, but a late tackle robbed him before he was able to shoot.

Prescot earned the first corner of the game after 24 minutes, but that came to nought, before the clearance was pumped back in and was an easy catch for Mersin.

The visitors managed to mount a rare attack a minute later when Donkor was outpaced on the right, but the cross was wasted and Mickleover were straight back on the attack, with Atkinson sending Ferron clear again, but his cross found no one waiting in the box.

Atkinson and Dales then worked together, the final cross earned a corner, but soon afterwards the deadlock was broken.

Beavon started the move and found Dales in acres of space, with a free run down the middle. The keeper came off his line, but Dales measured it perfectly to slot it home, 1-0 after 31 minutes.

Almost from the kick off Dales was charging forward again, he passed as he was challenged but still found Edwards, who fired home number two with a deflection from close range, 2-0 just a minute after the opener.

There could have been a third just three minutes later, when a long ball down the left had Edwards chasing, but the keeper just managed to get there first.

Prescot had another corner after 37 minutes, but that was soon cleared, with the visitors still to test Mersin.

Edwards then earned a corner on the right, the ball bounced around in the area, before falling back to Edwards, but his close-range shot was saved by the keeper and danger cleared.

Half time was approaching but Sports were still pushing forward, with centre backs Wilkinson and Benson joining in too.

Dales earned another corner after a charge down the left wing and with a minute on the clock Adebambo sent Donkor clear and his cross just failed to connect with Beavon’s head and so it remained 2-0.

The visitors started the second half with more determination and a flurry of attacks, which was well handled by Donkor, Wilkinson, Benson and Ferron at the back.

57 minutes in and the visitors earned a double corner, but still failed to trouble the home defence, with Mersin only called into action to catch a 66th minute back pass.

Prescot then had two close range shots, both blocked by Wilkinson until it was cleared, before Dales tried a speculative shot, which was only just over the bar.

Mickleover made their first change when Weston replaced Carter after 71 minutes, but five minutes later there was a half chance for the visitors, following a scramble after a corner.

Dales put the ball across the face of the goal after 83 minutes, but there was no one to connect and a minute later Smith came on for Edwards.

Dales had another 87th minute shot saved by the keeper and in time added on Smith broke free and to shoot just over as the keeper advanced.

It was an excellent all round performance from Mickleover and a deserved three points, as we now look forward to 25/26 wherever that may be.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover start their Easter weekend at home to Leek Town on Friday evening. Our visitors were promoted to the NPL Premier Division last season and had a tough start to this seasons campaign.

Back in August Sports were 3-1 winners at Leek, as Josh Brehaut’s team spent their early months trying to escape the relegation zone.

We also knocked them out of the FA Cup in October, when we visited again and Dylan Edwards scored the only goal of the game.

With Mickleover’s fate sealed with a 1-1 draw at Hebburn last weekend. But our visitors have gradually climbed the table and are unbeaten in their last five games to lie mid table in 12th, having won their last two games both at home, against Bamber Bridge and Workington.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 7.45.

Easter Monday is our final away game of the season, travelling to play off hopefuls Ashton Utd. Steve Cunningham’s team have spent all season in the top half.

When they visited us on Boxing Day the first attempt was abandoned due to fog when they led 0-3, but the return trip in late January ended in another defeat 1-3.

They had a slip themselves last month, losing three games out of five before bouncing back with a 5-1 win over Hebburn Town,

Our hosts are currently fifth in the table, holding onto the final play-off place, but went down 0-2 at home to Gainsborough last Saturday. So they need a win to too to secure their place.

Currently 21st in the table, Sports will be making the most of their final away game in the Premier Division for now, needing all the points they can muster before the end of the season, to stand any chance of taking a lifeline to remain in the NPL top flight.

Kick off at Ashton is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

It was need to win match for Mickleover as they travelled to Hebburn Town for their penultimate away game of the season. They came away with a 1-1 draw, which confirms relegation to one of the regional NPL Division One Leagues.

Starting line-up: 1- Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Tom Senior 7-Andy Dales 8-Curtis Weston 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Gaby Adebambo 11-Kwaku Donkor. Subs: Brandon Ferron, Cieron Keane, Bernard Nsiah, Marcus Barnes, Michael Hollingsworth.

It was a difficult start for Mickleover, as they were almost immediately under attack from their hosts. It was only nine minutes into the game when Posthill’s cross was slotted home at point blank range by Gomes, to make it 0-1.

But just seven minutes later a reckless challenge from Thompson on Atkinson earned him a straight red card, from when Sports responded to chase for the equaliser.

19 minutes gone and Adebambo made a break and went close, but a minute later the midfielder went clear again, placing his effort neatly past keeper Cameron to make it 1-1.

Cameron denied Mickleover again after 24 minutes, before Adebambo went close after 37 minutes, this time just wide of the left-hand post, before a following shot was blocked by Elsdon, before Cameron picked up the rebound.

Barnes replaced Adebambo for the second half, but it was Beavon next to test the home keeper. He forced a 52nd minute save from Cameron, just after Keane had come on for Atkinson.

But Hebburn had chances too, when Murray sent a long shot sailing past the left-hand post after 63 minutes.

Nsiah then replaced Donkor a couple of minutes later, but it was Hebburn following up with another missed opportunity. Mersin saved from Turner and just three minutes later he came out on top again when Murray lost out in a one on one.

Ferron was late sub for Beavon but it remained 1-1 and consigned Mickleover to relegation from the NPL Premier Division.

by Peter Scherer

It’s back to the North East this weekend as Mickleover face their penultimate away game of the season at Hebburn.

Earlier in the season our hosts looked like play-off contenders, but it’s now seven games without a win following their 2-1 home defeat to Ilkeston last Saturday, leaving team in 14th place.

For Mickleover it’s a must win to stay in the Premier Division mathematically.

It’s player/manager Daniel Moore’s third season in charge of the Hornets, having previously led Shildon to the Eastern Division play-offs.
A former Mansfield Junior, he captained the Spennymoor side that won the FA Vase, despite missing the Wembley final, before returning to Shildon as captain again too. He is still registered as a player.
Kieran Hunter is one of three goalkeepers used recently. He came from the Sunderland Academy, had three years at Gateshead and spent time at Chester Le Street on a dual registration too, after arriving at Hebburn.

Dan Cameron is a keeper on loan from Sunderland, while Callum Dobson came from South Shields in pre-season, and had previously been loaned to Newcastle Blue Star.
Centre back Matty Elsdon was a junior at both Sunderland and Middlesbrough. After a loan at Inverness he joined Barrow following his release and was then loaned to Whitby and FC Utd, before a permanent move to Blyth Spartans. He then returned to Scotland with Clyde, before returning to Blyth in July 22, where he spent one year before joining the Hornets.
Jack Donaghy is a homegrown talent, who came through the clubs youth set up to make his first team debut in 2017. Another centre back primarily, he has been a mainstay at the club for the last seven years.

Liam Noble is a central midfielder with over 250 league appearances under his belt, since Sunderland picked up from Cramlington Boys Club. After a couple of loans at Carlisle he moved permanently and then signed for Notts County in July 2014. His next stop was Forest Green, before returning to Notts County, from where he moved on to Hartlepool. He then 4 ½ years with Morpeth, but came to Hebburn in pre-season after ending last season on loan.
Aaron Thompson plays central or defensive midfield. A former South Shields player, he came to Hebburn from West Auckland in September 2022.
Robbie Spence is a midfielder who became a Hornet back in 2018. A former Scunthorpe junior, he also played for Team Northumbria in the Northern League and was on loan at Heaton Stannington earlier this season.
Liam Murray is a midfielder that has come through our hosts own youth scheme, having joined at the age of four. He had some time at the Newcastle Utd Academy and has played for Jarrow too.
Another midfielder is Paul Van Zandvliet, signed from Ashington in September. He has played for North Shields too and is currently dual registered with Newcastle Blue Star.
Striker Olly Martin was a Junior at both Newcastle and Sunderland, before moving on to Gateshead, Jarrow Roofing and Whitley Bay. He signed for Hebburn in June 2019 and scored the winner for them in the 2020 FA Vase Final at Wembley.
Amar Purewal is a striker who arrived from West Auckland in June 2020. A Punjab International, he started out at Newcastle Utd, before moving on to Newcastle Benfield and Bishop Aukland. He was then Durham City’s leading scorer before joining Darlington, before joining West Auckland in 2016.
Fellow strikers Joao Pedro Gomes Carrington and Dan Savage are loanees from South Shields. They also had loan spells at Blyth Spartans earlier this season.
Winger Joe Walton was manager Moore’s second signing for the club, after the pair played together at Spennymoor. He started at Sunderland RCA and has played at Washington and Morpeth too.
Defender Michael Turner arrived from Morpeth at the beginning of this season, while Joe Posthill is a striker who arrived pre-season, after being Shildon’s top scorer last term. Posthill started out at Hartlepool and played for Stockton before his move to Shildon.
Gildo Da Silva and Harry Richardson have also been on the bench this, having come through the Academy and reserve side.
Kick off as usual is 3pm.